Interspecific tree named &#39;FLAVOR MIST&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of interspecific tree. The following features of the tree and its fruit are characterized with the tree budded on ‘Nemaguard’ Rootstock (non-patented), grown on Handford sandy loam soil with Storie Index rating 95, in USDA Hardiness Zone 9, near Modesto, Calif., with standard commercial fruit growing practices, such as pruning, thinning, spraying, irrigation and fertilization. Its novelty consist of the following combination of desirable features:
         1. Tree with vigorous, upright growth.   2. Heavy and regular bearer of large size, yellow flesh fruit.   3. Fruit with an attractive dark purple skin color.   4. Fruit with good flavor and eating quality.   5. Fruit with good storage and shipping ability.

Botanical designation: Interspecific Prunus species.

Variety denomination: ‘Flavor Mist’.

BACKGROUND OF THE VARIETY Field of the Invention

In the field of plant genetics, we conduct an extensive and continuing plant-breeding program including the organization and asexual reproduction of orchard trees, and of which plums, peaches, nectarines, apricots, cherries, almonds and interspecifics are exemplary. It was against this background of our activities that the present variety of interspecific tree was originated and asexually reproduced by us in our experimental orchard located near Modesto, Stanislaus County, Calif.

Prior varieties

Among the existing varieties of interspecific and plum trees, which are known to us, and mentioned herein, ‘Coparose’ Interspecific (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,173), the proprietary non-patented interspecific seedlings ‘340LU282’, ‘66Z352’, ‘31Z635’, ‘121LT36’, ‘31Z1061’ and the proprietary non-patented plum seedling ‘93LG577’.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

ORIGIN OF THE VARIETY

The new and distinct variety of interspecific tree was developed by us in our experimental orchard located near Modesto, Calif. as a first generation cross between our proprietary non-patented interspecific seedling selections ‘340LU282’ and ‘121LT36’. The seed parent (340LU282) originated from crosses between our non-patented interspecific seedling selections ‘66Z352’ and ‘31Z635’. The pollen parent (121LT36) originated from crosses between the proprietary non-patented plum seedling ‘93LG577’ and the proprietary non-patented interspecific seedling ‘31Z1061’. A large number of these first generation seedlings were budded onto older established trees of ‘Nemaguard’ Rootstock (non-patented) to accelerate rapid fruit production. Under close and careful observation, we recognized the desirable tree and fruit characteristics of the present seedling and selected it in 2008 for additional asexual propagation and commercialization.

ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION OF THE VARIETY

In 2008 asexual reproduction of the new and distinct variety of interspecific tree was by budding to ‘Nemaguard’ Rootstock (non-patented), as performed by us in our experimental orchard located near Modesto, Calif., and shows that reproductions run true to the original tree and all characteristics of the tree and its fruit are established and transmitted through succeeding asexual propagations.

SUMMARY OF THE NEW VARIETY:

The present new and distinct variety of interspecific tree is of large size, vigorous, upright growth and a regular and productive bearer of large size, clingstone fruit with an attractive dark purple skin color. The fruit is further characterized by its firm, yellow flesh, good flavor and eating quality with good handling and shipping ability. In comparison to its non-patented interspecific seed parent (340LU282) the fruit of the new variety is larger in size and has better eating quality. In comparison to its non-patented interspecific pollen parent (121LT36) the fruit of the new variety is approximately 38 days earlier in maturity and has dark purple skin compared to red. In comparison to the commercial variety ‘Coparose’ Interspecific (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 20,173) the fruit of the new variety has dark purple skin compared to light red and is larger in size.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying color photographic illustration shows typical specimens of the foliage and fruit of the present new interspecific variety. The illustration shows the upper and lower surface of the leaves, an exterior and sectional view of a single fruit divided in its suture plane to show flesh color, pit cavity and the stone remaining in place. The photographic illustration was taken shortly after being picked (shipping ripe) from a 8 year old tree and the colors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a color representation of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE VARIETY

The following is a detailed botanical description of the new variety of interspecific tree, its flowers, foliage and fruit, as based on observations of 8 year old specimens grown near Modesto, Calif., with color in accordance with Munsell Book of Color published in 1958.

-   Tree:     -   -   Size.—Large, pruned to 3 to 3.5 meters in height and width             for economical harvesting of fruit. Size varies with             different cultural practices.         -   Vigor.—Vigorous, tree growth of approximately 1.5 to 2             meters the first growing season. Varies with cultural             practices, soil type, fertility and climatic conditions.         -   Form.—Upright, usually pruned to vase shape.         -   Branching habit.—Upright, crotch angle approximately 30°,             increases with heavy crop load.         -   Productivity.—Productive, thinning and spacing of fruit             necessary for desired market size. Fruit set varies with             climatic conditions during bloom time.         -   Bearer.—Regular, adequate fruit set 6 consecutive years. No             alternate bearing observed.         -   Fertility.—Self-sterile, pollinator required.         -   Density.—Medium dense, usually pruned to vase shape to             increase sunlight and air movement to center of tree to             enhance fruit quality and health of fruit spurs.         -   Hardiness.—Hardy in all stone fruit growing areas of             California. Tree grown in USDA Hardiness Zone 9. Winter             chilling requirement approximately 800 hours at or below 45°             F. -   Trunk:     -   -   Size.—Large. Average circumference 53.3 cm at 25.4 cm above             ground on a 8 year old tree.         -   Stocky.—Medium stocky.         -   Texture.—Medium shaggy, roughness increases with age.         -   Color.—Varies from 2.5GY 4/2 to 2.5GY 2/2. -   Branches:     -   -   Size.—Medium. Average circumference 16.5 cm at 1.2 meters             above ground. Crotch angle approximately 30°, increases with             heavy crop load.         -   Surface texture.—New growth relatively smooth. Mature growth             medium rough, roughness increases with age.         -   Lenticels.—Average number 74 in a 25.8 square cm area.             Average length 4.5 mm. Average width 1.2 mm. Color 10YR 5/6.         -   Color.—New growth varies from 5GY 7/6 to 5GY 6/6. Mature             growth varies from 5YR 3/4 to 5YR 2/4, varies with age of             growth. -   Leaves:     -   -   Size.—Small to medium. Average length 80.3 mm. Average width             37.0 mm.         -   Form.—Elliptical.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Doubly serrate.         -   Thickness.—Medium.         -   Surface texture.—Upper surface relatively smooth, slight             indentations over midrib and leaf veins. Lower surface             relatively smooth, except for small ridges created by midrib             and pinnate venation. Both upper and lower surfaces             glabrous.         -   Petiole.—Average length 10.7 mm. Average width 1.2 mm.             Longitudinally grooved. Surface — glabrous. Color varies             from 5GY 8/6 to 5GY 7/6.         -   Glands.—Type — globose. Size — small. Average length 0.5 mm.             Average diameter 0.5 mm. Number varies from 1 to 2, average             number 2. Located primarily on the base of leaf blade and             upper portion of petiole. Color 5R 3/4.         -   Stipules.—Average number 2. Average length 5.2 mm. Edges —             pectinate. Color varies from 5GY 8/6 to 5R 3/4.         -   Color.—Upper surface varies from 2.5GY 3/4 to 5GY 4/4. Lower             surface varies from 2.5GY 5/4 to 5GY 5/4. Midvein color             varies from 7.5Y 7/6 to 10Y 8/6. -   Flower buds:     -   -   Size.—Medium. Average length 10.0 mm. Average diameter 6.8             mm.         -   Hardiness.—Hardy with respect to California winters.         -   Density.—Dense.         -   Form.—Conical, becoming elongated just before opening.         -   Pedicel.—Average length 7.9 mm. Average width 0.6 mm.             Surface — glabrous. Color 2.5GY 7/6.         -   Color.—N 9.5/ (white).         -   Number of buds per spur.—Average number 7, varies from 6 to             9. -   Flowers:     -   -   Blooming period.—Date of First Bloom Feb. 8, 2016. Date of             Petal Fall Feb. 18, 2016, varies slightly with climatic             conditions.         -   Size.—Medium. Average height 10.4 mm. Average diameter 16.8             mm.         -   Petals.—Normally 5, alternately arranged to sepals. Size —             medium to large. Average length 10.8 mm. Average width             9.6 mm. Form — elliptical. Arrangement — overlapping. Petal             apex — rounded. Petal base — truncate. Margin — sinuate.             Color N 9.5/ (white). Both upper and lower surfaces             glabrous.         -   Sepals.—Normally 5, alternately arranged to petals. Size —             medium. Average length 3.3 mm. Average width 3.4 mm. Shape —             triangular. Apex — triangular. Margin — entire. Both upper             and lower surfaces glabrous. Color — upper surface 10Y 7/10.             Lower surface 2.5GY 6/6.         -   Stamens.—Average number per flower 27. On average, the             stamens are above the height of the petals. Average filament             length 8.0 mm. Filament color N 9.5/ (white). Anther color             varies from 7.5R 4/10 to 5Y 8.5/10.         -   Pollen.—Self sterile, pollinator required. Color 2.5YR 4/10.         -   Pistil.—Number — normally 1. Average length 8.1 mm. Position             of stigma an average of 1.9 mm below anthers. Surface —             glabrous. Color 2.5GY 8/6.         -   Fragrance.—Slight.         -   Color.—N 9.5/ (white).         -   Pedicel.—Average length 7.0 mm. Average width 0.7 mm.             Surface — glabrous.         -   Color.—2.5GY 7/6.         -   Number flowers per flower bud.—Average 2, varies from 1 to             3. -   Fruit:     -   -   Maturity when described.—Firm ripe and ready for             consumption.         -   Date of first picking.—Jul. 3, 2016.         -   Date of last picking.—Jul. 13, 2016, varies slightly with             climatic conditions.         -   Size.—Large. Average diameter axially 57.9 mm. Average             transversely in suture plane 69.5 mm. Average weight 176.1             grams, varies slightly with fertility of the soil, amount of             thinning and climatic conditions.         -   Form.—Globose.         -   Suture.—Lipped.         -   Ventral surface.—Lipped.         -   Apex.—Slightly retuse.         -   Base.—Flat.         -   Stem cavity.—Rounded to slightly elongated in suture plane.             Average depth 8.0 mm. Average diameter 5.6 mm. -   Stem:     -   -   Size.—Large. Average length 16.9 mm. Average diameter 2.0             mm.         -   Color.—Varies from 2.5GY 5/6 to 5YR 4/6. -   Flesh:     -   -   Ripens.—Evenly.         -   Texture.—Firm, meaty.         -   Fibers.—Few, small, tender.         -   Firmness.—Firm, comparable to other commercial interspecific             varieties.         -   Aroma.—Moderate.         -   Amydgalin.—Undetected.         -   Eating quality.—Good.         -   Flavor.—Good, having a good balance between acid and sugar.         -   Juice.—Heavy amount, enhances flavor.         -   Acidity.—Not available.         -   Brix.—Average Brix 18.5°, varies slightly with amount of             fruit per tree and climatic conditions.         -   Pit cavity.—Average length 24.7 mm. Average width 21.2 mm.             Average depth 6.8 mm. Color varies from 2.5Y 7/8 to 5Y 7/6.         -   Color.—Varies from 5Y 8.5/6 to 5Y 8/8. -   Skin:     -   -   Thickness.—Medium.         -   Surface.—Smooth.         -   Bloom.—Moderate amount, complete coverage.         -   Tendency to crack.—None.         -   Color.—Ground color varies from 2.Y 8.5/4 to 5Y 8/6.             Overspread with 7.5R 2/2 to 10R 2/4.         -   Tenacity.—Tenacious to flesh.         -   Astringency.—Undetected. -   Stone:     -   -   Type.—Clingstone, strong adherence to flesh.         -   Size.—Large. Average length 24.2 mm. Average width 20.7 mm.             Average thickness 12.5 mm.         -   Form.—Ovoid.         -   Base.—Flat.         -   Apex.—Rounded.         -   Surface.—Slightly pitted throughout. One shallow groove on             each side of suture extending from base to apex.         -   Sides.—Unequal, one side extending further outward from             suture plane.         -   Ridges.—Small, extending from base toward apex.         -   Tendency to split.—None.         -   Color.—Varies from 10YR 5/8 to 7.5YR 4/8 when dry. -   Kernel:     -   -   Size.—Medium. Average length 13.4 mm. Average width 10.4 mm.             Average depth 5.7 mm.         -   Form.—Ovate.         -   Viability.—Viable, complete embryo development.         -   Skin color.—Varies from 5Y 9/6 to 5Y 8.5/4. -   Use: Dessert. Market — local and long distance. -   Keeping quality Good, held firm 3 weeks at 38° to 42° F. without     internal breakdown of flesh or appreciable loss of flavor. -   Shipping quality: Good, minimal skin scarring or bruising of flesh     during picking, packing and shipping trials. -   Plant/fruit disease resistance/susceptibility: No specific testing     for relative plant/fruit disease resistance/susceptibility has been     designed. Under close observation during planting, growing, and     harvesting of fruit, under normal cultural and growing conditions     near Modesto, Calif., no particular plant/fruit disease resistance     or susceptibility has been observed. Any variety or selection     observed during indexing of plant characteristics with abnormal     fungus, bacterial, virus or insect susceptibility is destroyed and     eliminated from our breeding program. No atypical     resistances/susceptibilities have been noted under normal cultural     practices. The present new variety of interspecific tree, its     flowers, foliage and fruit herein described may vary in slight     detail due to climate, soil conditions and cultural practices under     which the variety may be grown. The present description is that of     the variety grown under the ecological conditions prevailing near     Modesto, Calif. 

1. A new and distinct variety of interspecific tree, substantially as illustrated and described. 